Joe Venuti
Giuseppe "Joe" Venuti (September 16, 1903 – August 14, 1978) was an American jazz musician and a pioneering jazz violinist, often hailed as the father of jazz violin. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Venuti was instrumental in introducing string instruments to jazz music, alongside his childhood friend and guitarist Eddie Lang. The duo became renowned in the 1920s and early 1930s for their 'hot' violin and guitar solos, frequently recording for labels such as OKeh and Columbia. Their collaborations, including the "Blue Four" combinations, are considered significant in jazz history.
Venuti worked with numerous prominent jazz figures of his time, including Benny Goodman, Bing Crosby, and Bix Beiderbecke. After Lang's death in 1933, Venuti's career saw a decline, although he continued to perform and record throughout the 1930s. He influenced western swing musicians and remained active in the music scene, even during periods of obscurity in the 1940s and 1950s.
In the 1960s, Venuti played at the Desert Inn Hotel in Las Vegas and was active with the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra. He experienced a resurgence in popularity in the late 1960s and collaborated with tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims in the 1970s. Venuti's later works include an album of duets with pianist Earl Hines and recordings with country-jazz musicians. He passed away in Seattle, Washington, in 1978.
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